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Annual tradeshow a boon for kids

The 2015 edition of Stettler’s annual Trade Show brought a lot of activity and fun...
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County of Stettler café was one of the busiest spots throughout the three days of the Trade Fair at the Stettler Recreation Centre from Friday

...mostly for kids coming to see the prehistoric special guest, alongside new business to many vendors and exhibitors.

Stacey Benjamin of the Stettler Regional Board of Trade and Community Development, who was in charge of organizing the show, said the number of visitors was down as compared to last year, but there was a lot of interest on the part of new vendors trying to make inroads in the Stettler market and in the surrounding communities.

One reason for the decline is thought to be a clash of dates with Lacombe’s annual trade fair, which attracted area visitors from Friday to Saturday.

According to the figures provided by Benjamin, attendance figures were as follows: Friday- 575 adults, 75 kids, Saturday- 1235 adults, 155 kids and Sunday- 460 adults, 170 kids.

There were many first-time exhibitors at the show, including a few from Stettler. One first-time participant, Wayne Richardson from Brownfield, said he wanted to see whether there would be interest in his hand-carved wood products and that he would show up next year if he felt there was demand for his exhibition.

Jen and Gord Copithorne, also first time exhibitors, said they had travelled from Cochrane to exhibit their skin health products and that they were happy with the interest they had received by midway through the exhibition period.

Of the 98 total exhibitors, 30 were first time participants, Benjamin said.

But 2015 Trade Show was probably the biggest bonanza for kids who enjoyed a wide variety of attractions throughout the three days of event.

Alongside the prehistoric Drumheller raptor, Stettler kids were entertained by a Kids’ Carnival on Saturday and a magician and a balloon artist on Sunday.

Benjamin said applications to have booth in the 2016 Trade Show would be accepted beginning in June.